I've really only played two for any considerable period. I guess the commonalities between them would be the persistent world, mostly. Otherwise, they are very different, and I play(ed) them for different reasons.
One was an evolution of the Warcraft franchise, which was already excellent. It also incorporated elements of EQ, while minimizing 'downish' portions of MMORPG design. Environments, while not visually stunning, were pleasant to look at and very diverse. I would often play in first person, and my brother would play as well. We would meet in the virtual world and discuss goings on in the real world.
The second was an indie start up that launched on a Hail Mary. To my mind's eye, it did everything WoW did but better by sticking to 'real physics'. Getting hit with a weapon dealing physical force and having to recover, learning to recover in the most elegant way possible perhaps even setting up a riposte, created a dynamic flow that was unparalleled in a persistent online environment.
Later, I began to enjoy merchant-like activities within the game, trading up credits in various ways and by building certain relationships.
It's also rather incredible how many devices it runs on.
"The simple is the seal of the true and beauty is the splendor of truth" -Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar Authored 139 missions in VendettaOnline and 6 tracks in Distance
MMORPG's are a rich source of new content — and some of the best content is OTHER PEOPLE.
Even if they're DORKS.
In fact, especially if they're dorks.
GAMING FACTOID — while most MMORPG scenarios are pre-scripted, MMORPG players are uncannily random.
This means some MMORPG players power up the overall role playing experience by telling you what they've had for their dinner or letting you know when they have to take a pee.
The best Player Dorks are the ones who can simultaneously 'fix a drink', 'go get pizza', 'take a pee' and 'have a smoke' while multitasking this quartet of gaming brilliance alongside ... inadvertantly causing the death of the WHOLE PARTY.
Single player games lack this essential DORK MEETUP feature.
Stumpiness & Unbridled Misery Masquerading as VIRTUE
Need an AI-Free Elf Names Generator to bring your next elven character to life? Why ... course you do, you darn fool!
Comments
One was an evolution of the Warcraft franchise, which was already excellent. It also incorporated elements of EQ, while minimizing 'downish' portions of MMORPG design. Environments, while not visually stunning, were pleasant to look at and very diverse. I would often play in first person, and my brother would play as well. We would meet in the virtual world and discuss goings on in the real world.
The second was an indie start up that launched on a Hail Mary. To my mind's eye, it did everything WoW did but better by sticking to 'real physics'. Getting hit with a weapon dealing physical force and having to recover, learning to recover in the most elegant way possible perhaps even setting up a riposte, created a dynamic flow that was unparalleled in a persistent online environment.
Later, I began to enjoy merchant-like activities within the game, trading up credits in various ways and by building certain relationships.
It's also rather incredible how many devices it runs on.
"The simple is the seal of the true and beauty is the splendor of truth" -Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar
Authored 139 missions in Vendetta Online and 6 tracks in Distance